Free Web NovelChapter 224: Chapter 224 The Blind Date’s Hidden Intentions
Grayson glanced at the dialing screen in Rose’s hand before taking her phone and ending the call.
Rose’s limbs felt as though they had been injected with a paralytic.
She couldn’t summon even the slightest bit of strength.
As a medical student who had been exposed to various drugs since childhood, she immediately understood what was happening.
She had been drugged.
A hand gently patted her shoulder.
“Not feeling well? Let me take you somewhere to rest.”
Rose watched helplessly as her phone was taken away.
She had no strength to resist.
Even her throat seemed numb. She couldn’t speak a single word.
Grayson still wore a pleasant smile as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her away.
*****
James stepped outside after being pulled into several rounds of toasts.
Leaning against the stair railing, he frowned as he thought about what had happened between Rose and Grayson.
Grayson had lived overseas for most of his life. James knew very little about him.
But returning home and immediately going on a blind date with marriage as the goal?
Something about it bothered him.
James made a phone call and asked someone to investigate Grayson’s background.
At the very least, he wanted to know how Grayson had ended up on a blind date with Rose.
It would take some time to receive the results.
Resting an elbow against the railing, he pulled out a cigarette.
Just as he flicked his lighter, something caught his attention.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two figures emerging from the stairwell.
They were standing extremely close together.
His movements instantly froze.
James straightened and looked over.
Even from behind, the figures looked familiar.
They were Rose and Grayson.
What shocked him even more was that Rose appeared to be leaning against Grayson’s shoulder, allowing him to hold her.
That intimacy—the silent understanding between a man and a woman—made his throat tighten.
An inexplicable surge of anger followed.
This was their first meeting.
Did things really have to progress this quickly?
With a grim expression, he crushed out his cigarette and prepared to walk over.
He intended to pull Rose aside and ask her what she was doing.
However, he had barely taken a step when someone grabbed his arm.
James turned around.
Samantha was holding onto him.
Her expression remained calm.
“Mr. Taylor, I accidentally twisted my ankle. Could you take me to Ryan? I need some ice.”
James frowned instinctively.
He glanced down at her foot.
She was still wearing high heels and appeared somewhat uncomfortable.
He said nothing.
Turning his head, he looked back toward the direction Rose and Grayson had gone.
They had already disappeared.
At that moment, an indescribable feeling rose within him.
It was a mixture of irritation and the sense that something was wrong.
Rose was indeed divorcing Ryan.
She was free to do whatever she wanted.
Perhaps this was simply a mutual decision between two adults.
But what right did he have to interfere?
If Samantha had not stopped him, he might have actually gone over and interrupted their so-called love at first sight.
He searched the area one last time.
There was still no sign of Rose.
James pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Fine. Hold onto me.”
He extended an arm for Samantha to lean on without crossing any boundaries.
Samantha smiled gently.
“Thank you.”
As she turned away, something briefly caught her eye in the direction Rose had disappeared.
*****
James escorted Samantha back.
Meanwhile, Ryan remained seated among the crowd.
His posture appeared relaxed, yet he gave off an unmistakably distant and indifferent aura.
Samantha sat beside him.
Turning to James, she smiled.
“Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I feel much better now. The pain is gone.”
Only then did Ryan glance at her.
“What happened?”
“I only twisted it slightly. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Samantha smiled, signaling for him not to worry.
Ryan nodded.
James pressed his lips together.
He thought about Rose’s intimate behavior with Grayson earlier, as though the two had met too late in life.
For some reason, irritation continued to grow inside him.
It wasn’t his place to interfere.
But ignoring it entirely didn’t seem right either.
In the end, he simply turned around and went outside for some air.
Ryan noticed him leaving but asked no further questions.
Several influential figures and wealthy families had gathered tonight.
Where there were people, there was gossip.
Nearby, several guests had already begun discussing the evening’s host.
“Grayson just returned home and immediately hosted such a grand banquet. The Cooper family really spoils him.”
“Well, he’s the family favorite. Even though he’s technically an illegitimate son, the Cooper elders have adored him since childhood and always let him do as he pleases.”
Someone lowered his voice.
“He looks like a proper gentleman, but during my years overseas, his reputation was quite something. He even had a threesome once.”
“That wild?” someone asked in surprise.
Samantha glanced in their direction, took a sip of her wine, and raised an eyebrow.
Ryan showed no interest in the conversation.
His expression remained cold and detached.
“Just today, another woman fell for him and willingly followed him upstairs. People back home don’t know his reputation. It’s easy to be fooled.”
Upon hearing those words, Samantha glanced at Ryan.
Several people approached to toast him, but he paid little attention.
She slowly leaned back into her chair.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
Rose had misjudged Grayson.
She could hardly blame anyone but herself.
Ryan disliked excessive drinking.
After refusing several toasts, he stood up.
“I’m going to the restroom.”
Samantha smiled. “All right.”
After leaving the banquet hall, Ryan walked toward the window at the end of the corridor.
Leaning against the wall, he took out his lighter.
At that moment, James returned.
Ryan raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve been distracted all evening. What’s wrong?”
He had seen through him long ago.
James clearly had something on his mind.
James had always known Ryan was perceptive.
He hesitated.
Should he tell Ryan about Rose’s blind date with Grayson?
“Ryan, I know you may not care, but I think you should at least know about something.”
James finally decided to speak.
But before he could continue, Samantha hurried over.
“Ryan, could you take me home? Mike is sick. He’s been vomiting and has diarrhea. It seems serious.”
Ryan glanced at James, signaling for him to continue.
Seeing this, Samantha unconsciously clenched her fists.
James exhaled.
“Never mind. You two should go.”
Ryan didn’t ask further.
He turned and walked away.
At that moment, James’s phone vibrated.
He took it out.
The report on Grayson’s activities overseas had arrived.
As he read through the information, his expression suddenly changed.
*****
Rose was taken to a suite upstairs.
She still couldn’t summon any strength.
She had no idea what kind of drug she had been given.
Ironically, her mind had never felt clearer.
That was the cruelest part.
She could only watch everything happen while remaining completely unable to escape.
Until she was thrown onto the bed.
Grayson sat down on the sofa and lit a cigarette.
“Miss Bennett, you must be the first woman who has ever rejected me. I have to admit, it hurts my pride.”
He took a slow drag.
“Madam knight told me that you had a gentle and obedient personality.”
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“But I think you’re quite good at pretending.”
